lint
C1Neutral to informal in everyday contexts; technical in computing.
Definition
Meaning
Short, fine fibers that come off fabric, especially after washing or wear.
Any small, unwanted bits of material, especially fluff or dust; in computing, refers to tools that analyze code for potential errors or stylistic issues.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a mass noun (e.g., 'a lot of lint'). In everyday use, strongly associated with laundry and clothing maintenance. The computing term 'linter' is derived from the original meaning, implying something that picks out small errors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core meaning is identical. The computing term 'lint'/'linter' is international technical jargon.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English due to the prominence of clothes dryers, which have 'lint traps'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
V + lint (remove lint)Adj + lint (stray lint)N + of + lint (a piece of lint)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To pick lint (to be overly fussy about minor details).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in manufacturing/textile quality control ('fabric lint').
Academic
Rare in humanities; appears in materials science or computing contexts.
Everyday
Very common, related to laundry, clothing care, and cleaning.
Technical
Common in computing ('code linter', 'run lint on the script').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He always lints his black trousers with that jumper.
American English
- This sweater really lints up my dark coats.
adverb
British English
- The fabric shed lintily onto the sofa.
adjective
British English
- The linty residue was all over the washing machine drum.
American English
- After the cycle, the clothes felt slightly linty.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is lint on your black shirt.
- Remember to clean the lint filter in the dryer.
- A good lint roller is essential for keeping suits presentable.
- The static charge caused the synthetic fibres to attract lint persistently.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LINen shirt that sheds tiny threads - those threads are LINT.
Conceptual Metaphor
SMALL, UNWANTED PARTICLES ARE LINT (e.g., 'lint in the code', 'mental lint').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'линька' (molting/shedding). The closest equivalent is 'ворсинки' or 'катышки' (pills on fabric).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun (*'three lints'). It is generally uncountable. Confusing 'lint' (fibers) with 'lintel' (architectural beam).
Practice
Quiz
In computing, what does 'lint' refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically no. It is a mass noun (e.g., 'some lint', 'a lot of lint'). You would say 'pieces of lint' to quantify.
They are often interchangeable, but 'lint' is more specific to fibers from cloth, while 'fluff' can be lighter, looser material (e.g., dust fluff).
The original tool for C was called 'lint' because it picked out small, potentially problematic bits from code, analogous to picking lint off clothing.
Yes, front-loading machines often have a lint filter that should be cleaned regularly to maintain efficiency and prevent blockages.